The Made In USA stainless steel cages from King Cage are often on American chromoly bikes that I think are cool.
They are made by hand one by one.
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this video.
There are two main models that King Cage offers, Stainless Cage and the Iris Cage.
Iris grips the bottle firmly by holding it tightly on both sides, providing a secure hold.
(It’s a common mistake for beginners to accidentally install it the wrong way around.)
The stainless model is designed to make it easy to insert and remove bottles even at a slight angle.
With frames like the Mod. Zero, which have a smaller main triangle, the space can be so tight that you can only pull the bottle out at an angle; in that case, the stainless model is ideal.
On the other hand, for frames with a large triangle, like the classic Monstercross, using an Iris cage makes them more functional.
Honestly, you should just go with whatever you like the look of, but that’s generally how they’re distinguished.
Ron, the builder behind the cages, is from FAT CITY CYCLES (FAT CHANCE), a legendary frame shop that still has a cult following.
He is a true legend who carries on the legacy of the American bike scene while passing the torch of craftsmanship to the current generation.
I think one of the reasons King Cage is so beloved is that, in the best possible way, he’s a playful guy who doesn’t come across as the typical industry heavyweight.
Just considering that background alone, I can’t think of a single reason not to mount these on a steel bike…
One of the great things about stainless steel is that even if you bump it and it gets bent out of shape, you can easily straighten it back out by hand (the photo shows a titanium model).
(Aluminum is lightweight, but is fragile and can actually break.)
I think that kind of physical durability is one of the reasons why real cyclists have loved it for so long.
